Teresa Joy “Sissy” Brewer of Nashville, Tennessee passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 7, 2021, surrounded by her family.
Sissy was born in Florence, Alabama on November 28, 1958 and grew up in Collinwood, Tennessee where she was a member of the Collinwood United Methodist Church. Sissy was blessed to have had all her grandparents nearby, which allowed her to have a close relationship withthem and her extended family. As a young girl, she loved to read Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon mysteries and continued her love of reading into adulthood. She played basketball with the Lady Trojans in middle and high school. She graduated from Collinwood High School with the class of 1976.
She went on to earn her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting which took her west to Las Vegas, Nevada where she worked at Cloud Carpets for several years. However, Tennessee called her home to be closer to family and friends. She moved back to Nashville and joined Lakoff & Co. where she worked for the past 18 years.
Sissy had a passion for life that was obvious to all who were lucky enough to know her. When Sissy was around, there was never a dull moment. Living up to her middle name, Joy, she always lifted spirits and brought light to even the dullest of moments. Sissy had an ease about her, with a bright smile and a cheerful laugh. Her kindness was effortless, and she was generous beyond measure Sissy enjoyed spending time with her partner of many years, Anthony. They met at the lake and shared a love of water, dogs, music, and good food. Anthony’s fun-loving nature and Sissy’s free spirit made them a great match.
Sissy enjoyed live music, even living above the Studio 19 recording studio in Nashville during her youth. Music was a way of life for her. She ventured to see her favorite artists in concert like Elvis, The Eagles, Bob Seger, Kid Rock, Tom Petty, Willie Nelson, Alice Cooper, The Rolling Stones, and Aerosmith, just to name a few. She was a part of the Nashville music scene, and enjoyed attending the CMA awards, receiving invites to all the cool shows around town, hanging backstage at concerts, and even the
occasional celebrity run-in. She also had an interest in art, often attending community festivals.
Sissy traveled the world and back! She journeyed coast to coast from California to New York City and visited as far as Ireland. She especially loved trips to Walt Disney World with her family over the years, sporting her signature Mickey Tye-Dye (made for her by her nieces and nephew). A thrill seeker, her favorite ride was Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.
From the poolside at her home in Nashville to her mom’s beach house in Florida, Sissy loved to relax by the water with the sun shining down on her. It was very rare that she ever missed a sunset when she was at the beach. She had a thoughtful nature, always providing encouragement when you needed it most. She was a loving partner to Anthony, a dedicated rescue dog owner, a best friend to her sister Lisa, a second mom to her nieces and
nephew, and an honorary McFall. They will carry with them her love of music, art, the beach, traveling, and living life to the fullest.
She is preceded by her mother, Reva Mae Smith Brewer; father, Leon Patrick Brewer; infant brother, Patrick Smith Brewer; grandparents, William Mack Brewer, Carrie Lay Brewer, Bessie Linville Smith, and Bill Smith.
Those left to cherish her memories are sister, Lisa (Gary) McFall; brothers, Patrick (Misty) Brewer and Winn Brewer; her partner, Anthony Smith and beloved dog, Skydancer; nieces and nephews, Brittany (Dan) McFall, Cara (Aaron) Thompson, Garrett McFall, Amanda (Mark) Autry, Sydney McFall, Mandy Brewer, and Ellie Brewer; great-nephews, Eli Shtob, Alex Shtob, and Nico Thompson; uncle, Joel (Flo) Brewer; aunt, Peg (Mickey) Lowery, cousins, Diane (Gary) Hudson, Patti Pruitt, Michael (Lisa) Lowery; more
loving relatives and countless friends who she viewed as family.
Sissy made friends everywhere she went and will be greatly missed by all that knew her. She loved every second spent with her family and friends. Her joyful nature inspired those around her to find the fun in every moment. She will always be remembered for living life to the fullest while being present in the moment, her love of music and art, her smile that would light up a room, and her kind, generous, and compassionate spirit.
To honor her, the family asks that friends and loved ones sit in the sunlight, throw on some shades, turn up the music, and rock on! Whenever you see the sunshine, Sis is there with you. To cherish her memory, please share stories with others about how she impacted your life, think of her and how she lived for each moment. May that inspire us all.
She will always be with us in the happy moments and beautiful sunsets. For some, the sunset is simply the end of day, but for Sis it was a colorful display of God’s love and all that life had to offer. She often would say, “Mom has smiled down on me again in this beautiful sunset, she will always be with us in spirit.” Let’s find Sis there, smiling down on us, and may she always inspire us to live our lives a little fuller each day.
The family plans to have a private celebration of life for Sissy this summer. At the family’s request, no flowers are to be sent. In remembrance of Sissy’s life, donations can be made by mail to The Butterfly Foundation, P.O. Box 212, Waynesboro, TN 38485, or made online at: https://butterfly5k.itsyourrace.com/DonateNow.aspx. (If donating online please leave a note in the message box stating in memory of Sissy Brewer.)
